Pilot or Flight Officer?

[jvickers]

Hello everyone,

I am currently in college and I will be graduating in december of this year. I spoke with a marine officer recruiter today at the career fair and he suggested that the fastest way to get into ocs and aviation would be to try for and NFO spot.

SO, I was hoping someone could explain to me what an NFO job is all about. I have always wanted to be a pilot but I was informed that the opening in OCS wouldnt be until october, do you think this is true?

 

[MarineAir]

NFO basically is the guy in the back seat. He basically operates the weapons systems and radar so the pilot can concentrate on flying the aircraft. That's mostly the jist of it in a few words. There are a few NFO's on here and they might be able to give you more indepth of what it is they do. As far as wanting to be a pilot, don't go NFO. There is a similar question on another thread and from what I've gathered, once you go NFO, your chances of switching to a pilot slot are next to nil. I think you'll have a better chance of hitting the lottery instead.

 

[TheBubba]

Put pilot if you want it. That's the best advice anyone can give you. If you see something you want, go for it.

 

[zippy]

There is a similar question on another thread and from what I've gathered, once you go NFO, your chances of switching to a pilot slot are next to nil. I think you'll have a better chance of hitting the lottery instead.

Perhaps I should go ask some of the ones im in primary with for a loan then...
It is kind of weird to see CAPTs and MAJs on the student roster and hanging around the ready room though. Like all things, im guessing the ability to transfer from NFO to pilot is dictated by the needs of the Marine Corps at the time the person attempts to transfer.

 

[jvickers]

Alright, well that kind of answers my question...But lets say I decide to go for an NFO slot. What is a career like for an NFO? Is their a civilian counterpart job once you discharge?

 

[Dhc2tacksby]

No civilian counterpart. There used to be a day when the commercial airlines used a second officer, (navigator) but alas, technology has phased his spot out and every cockpit is now a 2 person office. Unless of course you want to take a job in eastern europe flying a delapitated Tupolov.

I'm only assuming, but if you want to fly for the airlines, and your going the military route, you're wasting alot of time. You fly about 300 hours a year, verses the 1000 I flew as a nasty civilian.

As a Marine aviator, your a Marine, Officer, Aviator. In that order.

Good luck with your endevour.

 

[Punk]

if you want to be a pilot, go for it, never settle for anything else

you might have to fight for it, sacrifice something, but when its only you in the cockpit (sorry FO's), and you become one with the plane, its the best high there is


PS: yeah, I get passionate about somethings, flying is one of them

 

[skidkid]

Alright, well that kind of answers my question...But lets say I decide to go for an NFO slot. What is a career like for an NFO? Is their a civilian counterpart job once you discharge?

Since this is in the Marine thread I will try to answer some of this. Im not an NFO but I know a few adn a little about the career track.
After flight school (lots of info on this site about that)
You will go to your fleet squadron and learn your aircraft and how to employ it. You will advance in qualifications and do cool missions-dont care what platform you get
After that you will be up for orders where you can go any number of places from Forward Air Controller with the infanrty to ROTC instructor.
IT keeps going from there.

NFOs command squadrons and become generals.

They do well in the civilian market doing any number of things from defense contracts to engineering.

Ill let the NFOs finish this off.
Good luck.

 

[Brett327]

if you want to be a pilot, go for it, never settle for anything else

you might have to fight for it, sacrifice something, but when its only you in the cockpit (sorry FO's), and you become one with the plane, its the best high there is


PS: yeah, I get passionate about somethings, flying is one of them

So did I settle? I chose NFO over pilot, and that is more common than you think. I had the benefit of experience in seeing both in action to aid me in my decision.

Brett

 

[Steve Wilkins]

So did I settle? I chose NFO over pilot, and that is more common than you think. I had the benefit of experience in seeing both in action to aid me in my decision.

Brett

Easy tiger. I think he was just saying not to settle for anything less than what you want. If you want to be a pilot, don't settle for anything else...or if you want to be an NFO, don't settle for anything else.

 

[wink]

As I understand it, Punk is a new Prowler stick (sorry if I misread that Punk, and if I'm right, congrats). I think Brett is just softening him up. He needs to get used to having NFOs dump on him for what he says and does. It is 3 vs 1 after all. A NFO driven mission.

 

[Brett327]

As I understand it, Punk is a new Prowler stick (sorry if I misread that Punk, and if I'm right, congrats). I think Brett is just softening him up. He needs to get used to having NFOs dump on him for what he says and does. It is 3 vs 1 after all. A NFO driven mission.

Wink is precient, as always. I did send him a love-filled PM to that effect A head-strong pilot in ECMO land is a sad, sad thing.

Brett

 

[Steve Wilkins]

Wink is precient..

You've been reading too many of A4's posts.

 

[Punk]

Easy tiger. I think he was just saying not to settle for anything less than what you want. If you want to be a pilot, don't settle for anything else...or if you want to be an NFO, don't settle for anything else.

zing, these ECMO's I'll tell you, sharks, little blood in the water and they swarm

 

[wink]

zing, these ECMO's I'll tell you, sharks, little blood in the water and they swarm

Already you have come to recognize the threat .